US Congressman. Known as C. Murray Turpin and sometimes called Ben in a joking reference to vaudeville comedian Ben Turpin, he was educated in Kingston and served in the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1896 to 1901, advancing from Second Lieutenant to Captain. During the Spanish-American War he served as a Corporal in Company F, Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Turpin graduated from the dental department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1904 and began a practice in Kingston. He was a member of Kingston's Board of Education from 1916 to 1922. From 1922 to 1926 he was a town Burgess and served as Luzerne County Prothonotary. In 1929 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Republican to fill the vacancy caused when John J. Casey died. Turpin was reelected three times and served from June, 1929 to January, 1937. When first sworn in Turpin was the subject of national headlines when he accepted an office next to that of Oscar De Priest, then the only African-American member of the House, several of whose colleagues had refused to work in proximity to him. In 1936 Turpin ran unsuccessfully for reelection, afterwards accepting appointment as Assistant Chief Clerk for the Luzerne County Assessor. In 1940 he was unsuccessful in his attempt to return to Congress.
US Congressman. Known as C. Murray Turpin and sometimes called Ben in a joking reference to vaudeville comedian Ben Turpin, he was educated in Kingston and served in the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1896 to 1901, advancing from Second Lieutenant to Captain. During the Spanish-American War he served as a Corporal in Company F, Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Turpin graduated from the dental department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1904 and began a practice in Kingston. He was a member of Kingston's Board of Education from 1916 to 1922. From 1922 to 1926 he was a town Burgess and served as Luzerne County Prothonotary. In 1929 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Republican to fill the vacancy caused when John J. Casey died. Turpin was reelected three times and served from June, 1929 to January, 1937. When first sworn in Turpin was the subject of national headlines when he accepted an office next to that of Oscar De Priest, then the only African-American member of the House, several of whose colleagues had refused to work in proximity to him. In 1936 Turpin ran unsuccessfully for reelection, afterwards accepting appointment as Assistant Chief Clerk for the Luzerne County Assessor. In 1940 he was unsuccessful in his attempt to return to Congress.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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